USA > Illinois > Stephenson County > The History of Stephenson County, Illinois : containing biographical sketches war record statistics portraits of early settlers history of the Northwest, history of Illinois, &c. > Part 27
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The moccasin and American rattlesnake were found in every part of the county-in the fields, the woods, barns, etc., even taking refuge in sheaves of grain. Their bite was fatal, though remedies abounded, which, if taken in time, occasionally postponed the coming of the Man on the Pale Horse ; but if they were neglected a brief time, the victim was condemned. One day a settler in Rock Run started off fishing, accompanied by a neighbor and mem- bers of his family. While perambulating the banks of the Pecatonica, one of the lads, as he thought, stubbed his toe, and uttering cries of pain, his father
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hurried to examine the extent of his injuries. He saw, at a glance, that the boy had been stung by a "racer," and, returning home as rapidly as possible, summoned a physician in the vain hope that immediate treatment would coun- teract the effects of the poison before his system became impregnated with it. But efforts were useless ; the life of the lad set with the sun.
On another occasion, an Irishman was plowing in a field near Rock City, and while so occupied was bitten in the calf of his leg. At a distance from medical supplies, and realizing the danger encountered by delay, he whipped out his knife, and, cutting a piece out of that portion of his limb affected, continued his labors, and lived many years after without experiencing any serious effects from his collision with the reptile.
These instances will index some of the many dangers that crossed the path- way of early settlers, and left their several marks. To-day, snakes and horse- thieves have become dead issues. At times they indicate their presence, but are speedily suppressed without loss or injury.
In the spring of this year, a Norwegian colony came from across the sea, and, landing in America, pursued their journey to Illinois, settling in Rock Run Township, of Stephenson County, the first representatives of that nationality who came to the United States to remain. Some months before, an agent of these people visited the States and making a general canvass of the ad- vantages offered in the South and West, returned, after deciding upon the section subsequently occupied. A portion were husbandmen, and at once took up claims ; a few were mechanics, and worked at their respective trades. All were industrious, thrifty, economical, and soon conquered a competency, which descended to their children, who, in professional, mechanical and agricultural lines of life, have not only done well, but deserved confidence.
The character of the men who became identified with the county in 1839, was in keeping with that of the best who seek the extended field of operations afforded by a new country, where they can, by the exercise of diligence, industry and careful management, control their own destiny more acceptably than in regions which are already established, and revere the memory of men who are afterward regarded as the marks and models of the times in which they lived.
Such a man was D. A. Knowlton, Sr., who settled in Freeport at this period. From small beginnings he amassed wealth and became an influential man, not alone in the county and State, but in the Northwest. The following story, indexing the quality of customers he occasionally had to deal with while engaged in merchandising, he related himself at the Old Settlers' meeting, which convened at Cedarville, in August, 1875 :
"You know, " he began, "that I was always called a sharp collector. One day, a man by the name of Charley Hall came into my store with an order for goods, but he wanted more goods than the order called for. I said, ' Charley, I cannot trust you; and "no" is a word I can always say in business matters.
' But, ' pleaded Hall, 'let me have them, Mr. Knowlton, and I will pay you next week.' I then made the following bargain with him : 'If you do not pay me the balance as per agreement, I shall have the privilege of kicking you every time I see you until the debt is paid.' For several weeks the countenance of Hall did not grace my store ; but after a while he appeared, and, walking into my store, I said : 'Charles, I would like to see you a moment outside, ' and when out I gave him a very violent kick. Hall turned around and said, ' Knowlton, what's that for ?' 'According to agreement, ' says I. The sequel to the case was that Charley a few days afterward brought a load of corn to me
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in payment of the debt, which I received and placed to his credit. I afterward learned that he was trusted for the corn by the farmer, in order to avoid any further indorsements of my contract. It is unnecessary to add that the farmer was never paid for the corn. He endeavored to wash two hands with one, and washed the farmer's. "
Mr. Knowlton, during the latter years of his life, was the head of a banking house in Freeport, which, since his death, has been conducted by his sons.
On the 29th of August, 1839, affairs had become settled, and the machinery of government in the county to operate without friction or jar. Among other evidences of civilization and the desire to emulate the example set by older places, was the convening of the Circuit Court for the disposition of routine and litigious business. But this latter, beyond actions instituted on behalf of the people, was confined to making orders relating to appeals from sub- ordinate courts.
On the date above indicated, the first session of the Circuit Court of Stephenson County was commenced, the Hon. Daniel Stone, Justice of the Sixth Judicial District, presiding; Hubbard Graves, Sheriff; John A. Clark, Clerk. The bar was occupied with attorneys from distant points, there being none of the profession at that time resident in the county, and none came until the Hon. George Purinton arrived, on the last day of the old year 1839. The lawyers in attendance were mostly from Galena, and included Mr. Hoag, Thompson Campbell, probably E. B. Washburne, with one or two others, who traveled the circuit, making but a precarious livelihood, but establishing a practice which, in after years, was more than remunerative.
At the same term of court, John C. Robey and William H. Hollenbeck appeared in open court to be qualified, and their appointment as deputies were duly entered upon the Court Records. Previous to this a Grand Jury was impaneled, consisting of John Howe, Luther F. Hall, Samuel F. Dodds, Levi Wilcoxon, Joseph Lobdell, Pells Manny, A. B. Watson, Mason Dimmick, Levi R. Hull, Robert Barber, Newcomb Kinney, Jonathan Corey, Phillip Fowler, Thomas Crain, Loring Snow, Eldridge Farwell, Giles Pierce, D. W. C. Mallory, Job S. Watson, J. K. Blackamore, Thompson Wilcoxon, Edward Marsh, and Alpheus Goddard.
The petit jury was composed of Frederick D. Bulkley, John Goddard, John Vanepps, Rodney Montague, Mason Dimmick, J. H. Barber, James Hart, Bartholomew Fletcher, Samuel Nelson, James Canfil, Thomas Early, and Joseph Green.
The first case submitted for adjudication was that of Asa B. Ames vs. Jacob Stroder, on appeal ; but as the appeal had been taken before Stephenson County was judicially organized, an order dismissing the same was entered, and plaintiff mulcted in costs.
On the 27th of August, John O'Connor and Jackson Bushkirk were in- dicted for the crime yet prevalent, horse stealing, and, being unable to fee coun- sel, Thompson Campbell, assisted by John C. Kimball, was appointed by the court to conduct their defense. But a change of venue was taken by the ac- cused to Jo Daviess County, and the readers are denied the privilege of infor- mation as to what measure of punishment was awarded them.
Other cases were called at this session, and more satisfactorily disposed of, among which was the case of the State vs Robert Compton et al., for riot ; also against Hiram Walker, for horse stealing. The defendants in both cases were convicted, and Walker was sentenced to the penitentiary for four years. He was escorted to Alton and served out his term.
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The court adjourned on the same day it was convened, until the next court in course. On April 7 and September 7, 1840, it sat again in Freeport with the same Judge and officers, remaining in session two days during April and three days in September, after which the court was abolished.
It might here be observed, speaking retrospectively, that settlements made in the county as late as 1839 were exclusively confined to timber belts, the settlers using prairies, which were beautiful beyond description, for pastures and ranges for cattle. They were almost universally of the opinion that these broad plains would never be cultivated, but be used almost exclusively for the purposes to which at this time they were devoted. When a change came over the spirit of their dreams, and compelled the conclusion that the prairie was a natural garden, which only required "breaking" and harrowing to " blossom like the rose," farmers had recourse to them for cultivation, and a repetition of hardships, though of a different character from those described in an earlier portion of this narrative was remarked. The sod of the prairie was exceed- ingly tenacious and hard to break up the first time, testing the capacity of the cattle employed for that purpose not more than the patience and endurance of the farmer. The usual method was with a breaking plow, provided with a wheel in front and a lever to gauge the depth of the furrow, so that the cumber- some contrivance needed no guiding hand to control its direction. To this five or six yoke of oxen were hooked, and, urged on by the gad, completed consider- able work during the day. The plow generally cut a furrow from twenty to twenty-two inches in width by from three to five inches in depth through the wiry roots of grass, and turned it over like a long black ribbon, without a break for rods, unless the " shear " was thrown out by striking a root. This rarely happened, for the blade of the plow-shear was kept sharp by grinding and re-filing at the end of nearly every row. When the "breaking " up was concluded, the soil was harrowed until it became mellow, when it was ready for cultivation and planting. These fields have grown into unfailing springs of wealth, owing to the close observance of their needs by the farmers, their constant application of systems of cultivation, and the employment of other means essential to their development and liberal yield.
The year 1839 concluded the decade in which the settlement of Stephenson County was accomplished, and its woods and broad prairies transformed into acres of productive land. The wigwam of the Indian had been exchanged for the rude cabin of the settler, and that, in the brief space of time recorded, for the more comfortable and commodious farmhouse. Acres had been put to seed, forests cut down, roads laid out, and towns built supplied with every auxilary that in the times whereof mention is made, could aid to render life endurable. From arbitration and the decision of disputed points by agencies, recognized as extra- judicial, courts had been established to which appeal was had. Schools had succeeded the primitive methods adopted for an equally primitive education, and in the minor affairs of the day a change had been wrought as wonderful as it was complete.
The settlers who came in during the year 1839, were : Joseph R. Berry, W. P. Cox, A. A. Mallory, Lewis Gibler, William Van Matre, Joseph Van Matre, Jr., Henry Corwith, Allen Curry, Sylvester Langdon, Thompson Cockerell, Charles H. Babcock, George H. Watson, William B. Hawkins, Ross and Anson Babcock, John Karcher, Lewis Woodruff, Solomon and Jacob Fisher, a man from the lead mines by the name of Drummond, Peter D., George and John Fisher, Calvin Preston, J. S. Patten, John Kleckner, Conrad Epley, Edward Pratt, M. Flower, M. Smith, Uriah Boyden, Thomas Bree,
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Martin Muller, Patrick Flynn, Patrick Flynn second, Michael Flynn, Thomas Hawley, William Marlowe, probably Benson McElheney, Henry and Jacob Bordner, John Brown, Robin McGee, James McKee, Samuel Templeton, John Price, Peter Fair, Daniel Zimmerman, Robert Price, Jacob Hoebel, A. Gund, Valentine Stoskopf, Jacob Shoup, Jacob Bardell, D. E. Pattee, " Jock " Pattee, M. L. Howard, a man named Judkins, who settled in Silver Creek, C. Stabeck, Ole Anderson, Canute Canutson, Covert Oleson, Ole Covertson, and a noble army of enterprising martyrs, whose names and records have been forgotten in the whirl of events.
In 1840, the population of Stephenson County was quoted at 2,800, of which 49, resided within the corporate limits of Freeport. The county contained ten schools, with an aggregate number of 170 scholars ; five grist and nine saw- mills ; five professional residents and other agencies of progress, religious, edu- cational and material, though there was no church and it was not until nine years later that a house especially devoted to the service of God was erected in the city.
In all the departments of life, however, with but one exception, a healthy feeling was to be observed. The county was measurably improved by the open- ing and cultivation of farms, and Freeport was to enter upon a prosperous period, during which it would become a formidable rival of similar organizations in the State. Permanent buildings of architectural excellence were to grace the streets. Schools, churches, academies and other aids to the development and accretion of wealth were to lend their presence, and flattering prospects attend the efforts improvised in these connections. The stream of population would continue to flow in a resistless tide into this favored land, and business, to use a Westernism, would be " booming " before the decade had run its course.
There were some who might have thought that it would be difficult to carry out these schemes, and were inclined to assert they were Utopian-to express astonishment that men, presumably so wise in worldly matters, should have attempted to combine so many projects. But they were not heeded when they gave expression to the reflections of their prophetic souls, and uttered prophecies of Cassandra import. The men who had undertaken the execution of these designs possessed unceasing, restless activity, unbounded curiosity, a craving for new knowledge, ever incubating plans that should develop into startling and original results from their stores of experience and observation, with patience, industry and power of endless labor were the marks of that beauty of the mind which many inherited, and to which the name of genius is given. These were the indexes, when judged by the standard of modern times, which marked dar- ing reformers, as they were. They were victorious over hardships, yet the victories won were only means to an end, the perfect conservation of all forces so completely that the highest order of progress would be brought forth, gather strength and mold the character of the people. The travels of Herodotus, the expedition of Xenophon through Asia Minor, the conquests of Alexander, and the discoveries of Columbus opened up Asia, Egypt and America not more freely than did the master minds and muscular brawn of the early settlers open up the wealth and resources of the Northwest.
Morally, the towns and surrounding country were in a reasonably satis- factory condition. The lawlessness and violence peculiar to other sections were nowhere visible, or, if at any time previous pronounced, had been softened through the benign influences that had been exerted in later days. Courts in 1839, irregular and "new to the business," became regular in their sittings and dignified and expeditious in the dispatch of business. The laws were more
Laved Sheety (DECEASED. ) FREEPORT.
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rigidly enforced, and penalties more unflinchingly imposed. Outlaws and bandits, however, occasionally indicated their presence at intervals, and sought to disturb the law and order which prevailed, by the assumption of prerogatives in harmony with their inclinations and characters. This class was, as a rule, composed of adventurers and gamblers, who, with horse-thieves and vagrants generally, had been run out of the lead mines, and, halting long enough at a safe distance from the scene of banishment, endeavored to defy opposition to their practices, but failed ignominiously, and received the extreme penalty of the law as a testimony against them.
From 1840 until 1846, indeed up to the building of railroads, the growth of the county, as compared with earlier years, was slow. Other portions of the West were sought by settlers. particularly the lead mines, and received accessions more rapidly. One cause of this was the absence of markets. The population was engaged almost exclusively in agriculture, and after farms were opened there was but a moderate sale of their products for this reason. Settlers have been known to take a load of pork to Mineral Point, where it was disposed of with difficulty at $1.25 per hundred weight, and occasional shipments of grain were made down the Mississippi from Savannah, which practice continued up to the very period, when railroads were operated in the country. These flat- boats were laden with produce and floated down the river to New Orleans, unless a market was found en route, and disposed of. The cargo being disposed of, the flat was sold for the lumber it contained, when the merchant who had shipped the venture, together with his supercargo or clerk and laborers, began his wearisome journey homeward. A partial market was found in the lead region, but as productions increased that market became overstocked, and prices decreased so that the transportation of commodities thither could not be made to pay. The same can be said of the Chicago market, though for a different reason-the distance. Chicago was at that early day beginning to be an important factor in the building up of the West. It was the point at which settlers procured their final outfits, and the market to which farmers transported their grain for sale. The means of conveyance was a lumber wagon drawn by four or five yoke of oxen, the driver pasturing his cattle at night by the wayside, himself camping out and cooking his meals. If he succeeded in progressing over horrible roads, or surviving the crossing of seemingly impassable sloughs and reaching his long journey's end, he was extremely fortunate. Not more so, however, if he was able to find a customer to whom a sale of the grain could be effected at 50 cents per bushel. Whenever he was able to control their patronage, he returned with a load of merchandise for the merchants of Freeport, for which he received a nominal consideration of store goods. Occasionally he found a family of emigrants, who, having reached Chicago by way of the lake, were waiting for the means of conveyance to continue their trip. In such cases the household goods of this "lucky find," together with the emigrant and his wife and little ones, were laden on the wagon for the return trip. Such a cargo was a bonanza to the teamster, for passage was invariably cash. With such difficulties to encounter, and the low prices paid for commodities, together with the extravagant charge made for many of the necessaries of life, it is not surprising that wealth was not rapidly amassed. As a compensation for these disadvantages, land was cheap. The broad prairies, which proved to be the finest farming land in the State, were held at a price within reach of the most impecunious. The suggestion is frequently made to some who came at an early day and are yet comparatively the reverse of independent, as to the reason why they failed to invest and wait for a rise ;
E
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Why it was that they were not possessed of the colossal fortune which might now have been theirs had they but invested their moderate resources in land. The answer to both these interrogatives invariably has been that they came here in search of moderate resources and didn't bring it with them.
Among those who came subsequent to 1839, not including those who settled in Freeport, there were : John, Reuben, Levi, Adam and Michael Bolander, George and Jacob Maurer, W. P. Naramore, Joseph Barber, Andrew Hinds, D. A. Baldwin, Captain Knese, Thomas and Adam Wilson, Christian Bennett, John Flynn, the Babb family, Mathias Ditzler, George House, John Lamb, Warren and Anson Andrews, Horace Post, Truman Lovdell, William Barkalow, Thomas Foster, Joseph Rush, Samuel Shiveley, Henry Loyer, Reuben Tower, William Schermerhorne, Frederick Gossmann, John Hammond, Nathan Ferry, Charles W. and Robert Barber, Frank Maginnis, Benjamin Illingworth, J. B. Clingman, George and Philip Reitzell, Henry Wohlford, John Frybarger, Richard Parriott, Jr., Franklin Scott, George Ilgen,-Eddy, Cyrus Woodman, Isaac Miller, Lyman, William and Nelson Hulburt, John Clarke, Joseph Norris, Seth Schockley, Henry Rybolt, with numberless others.
MORMON MEDDLINGS.
In the spring of this year the Mormons, or Latter-Day Saints, a religious sect with which the world has since become familiar, made their advent for the first time into the State of Illinois. The representatives of the doctrines taught by Joseph and Hyrum Smith had been guilty of crimes in Missouri of a charac- er different from that included in the polygamous tenets expounded from their pulpits, in consequence of which the indignation of the warlike Missourians had been excited to a degree that compelled their leaders to flee to Illinois, where they took refuge in Hancock County and commenced the building of Nauvoo. The accounts furnished by the saints of the cruel treatment they received at the hands of their enemies excited feelings of sympathy for what was then thought to be a Christian body of men and women, suffering in the cause of religion. This sympathy found expression in various ways ; among others, by the pass- age of a bill providing for the incorporation of the city of Nauvoo and confer- ring extraordinary powers upon its municipal officers, including the military and constabulary.
Thus protected, the Mormons began in Illinois a career of missionary work which has attracted thousands to their fold at the sacrifice of every sentiment of self-respect and the regard of all mankind. The emissaries of the sect were dis- tributed throughout Illinois and States contiguous thereto, with results that were made apparent by the annual increase of population in Nauvoo. The proselytes were by no means the ignorant classes represented as the converted of late years, but educated, reasoning men, with their families. The meeting's, it is said, held in Stephenson County, were quite respectable, but conversion was accomplished by means entirely dissimilar to those adopted by other denomina- tions. There was little public speaking, the missionaries having recourse to private interviews and personal solicitation to accomplish their miracles. The result of their labors was not, if report in that behalf is predicated upon fact, pro- portioned to the means used or the diligence and energy exercised. The saints were thick as lice in Egypt, according to report, but were unable to perform miracles as was Moses, and departed from Stephenson County, wise in their expe- rience, but impoverished as to results. True, there were some who accompanied them, notably Hector C. Haight, of Jefferson Township, and a settler named Shumway, residing in the northern part of the county.
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Both Haight and his wife became charmed with the teachings of Joe Smith's agents, if the sermons of this religion can possess any charm for a man above mediocrity, as Haight is represented to have been, and disposing of his possessions in Jefferson, he with his family crossed the Mississippi and made one of the number of martyrs, who, a few years after, suffered all the pangs of the inquisition in their weary pilgrimage across the plains to Salt Lake. For years nothing was heard of him, and the pioneer settler in Jefferson Township was forgotten in the hurry of life at home. But after a season, reports came of his success, which, upon being investigated, were found to be far more than the baseless fabric of a vision. He had prospered in temporal affairs, and spiritually he was above the vainglory of this world. He was one of Young's trusted advisers by the "Salt Lake's sad waves," and his wife had become a leading spirit in the revivals and meetings held in Zion. Both had increased the number of "sealings " to be found in Brigham's domain, but not without money or price. A short time back they re-visited the locality of their early residence in Stephenson County, upon which occasion they expressed an unal- terable and abiding faith in the religion they embraced, and, though it is said they pictured the lives led by the elect of Salt Lake citizens in glowing colors, none were influenced thereby or persuaded to return with them. *
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